USAA Auto Insurance Review (2021)

USAA auto insurance is highly rated and one of the cheapest in the country, earning its rank as one of the best companies for car insurance out there.

For nearly a century, the United Services auto insurance — better known as USAA — has branded itself as a premier provider for the military community.

With words like “service,” “loyalty,” “honesty,” and “integrity” prominently displayed on its website, USAA claims to bring the military’s most honorable attributes to its everyday service.

It also doesn’t hurt that United Services Automobile Association insurance continuously earns impressive accolades, like being named the “Most Reputable Insurance Company in the United States” or having some of the “Best Customer Service” in the American Insurance Industry.

Recognition aside, drivers want to know whether USAA auto insurance company ranks as a top contender for their car insurance needs — and that includes basic coverage options, rates, and much more.

And while finding trustworthy information about USAA may seem intimidating, it doesn’t have to be. You can find everything you need to know about USAA, and then some, right here in this complete guide.

But before you assume we’re only providing general information that won’t apply to you — think again. We’ve got everything from state-to-state rates, company-to-company comparisons, and an in-depth look at USAA discounts.

Bottom line? Getting started is as simple as scrolling down for all of your need-to-know details.

You can compare quotes with your  USAA auto insurance rates now by entering your ZIP code into our free car insurance comparison tool.

Now’s the time to put your keys in the ignition, and get into gear with our first topic— how USAA ranks among some of the world’s most well-respected organizations and why it is one of the best insurance providers for multi-vehicle households.

What are USAA auto insurance rates?

How much a driver ends up paying hinges on a variety of factors, and USAA is upfront in sharing the factors that affect auto insurance rates. This includes:

• Driver age
• Driver history
• Your vehicle make and model
• Where you live
• The number of miles you put on your car

The good news? We’re taking a look at USAA auto insurance perks and rates in each of these areas and more, so you don’t have to go searching.

In gathering data from Quadrant, we’re not only providing you with rates, but we’re also giving you a point-by-point analysis.

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What is the availability of USAA auto insurance?

First thing’s first — you may be wondering whether USAA is available where you live. Assuming you meet the eligibility requirements, USAA membership is available to drivers in all 50 states, Washington D.C., and in some international locations.

What are the USAA auto insurance rates by state?

We wanted to know how USAA rates compare against state averages — are they higher, lower, or about the same?

We looked, and quickly identified an impressive trend — where the data is available, we saw that USAA’s average rates consistently fall below the state average.

USAA Average Auto Insurance Rates by State

State	Average Annual Rate	Amount Higher/Lower than State Average	Percent Higher/Lower than State Average
Alaska	$2,454.21	-$967.31	-28.27%
Alabama	$2,124.09	-$1,442.87	-40.45%
Arkansas	$2,171.06	-$1,953.92	-47.37%
Arizona	$3,084.29	-$686.68	-18.21%
California	$2,693.87	-$995.06	-26.97%
Colorado	$3,338.87	-$537.52	-13.87%
Connecticut	$3,190.00	-$1,428.92	-30.94%
District of Columbia	$2,580.44	-$1,858.80	-41.87%
Delaware	$2,325.98	-$3,660.34	-61.15%
Florida	$2,850.41	-$1,830.05	-39.10%
Georgia	$3,157.46	-$1,809.37	-36.43%
Hawaii	$1,189.35	-$1,366.29	-53.46%
Iowa	$1,852.57	-$1,128.71	-37.86%
Idaho	$1,877.61	-$1,101.48	-36.97%
Illinois	$2,770.21	-$535.28	-16.19%
Indiana	$1,630.86	-$1,784.11	-52.24%
Kansas	$2,382.61	-$897.02	-27.35%
Kentucky	$2,897.89	-$2,297.51	-44.22%
Louisiana	$4,353.12	-$1,358.23	-23.78%
Maine	$1,930.79	-$1,022.49	-34.62%
Maryland	$2,744.14	-$1,838.56	-40.12%
Massachusetts	$1,458.99	-$1,219.86	-45.54%
Michigan	$3,620.00	-$6,878.64	-65.52%
Minnesota	$2,861.60	-$1,541.65	-35.01%
Missouri	$2,525.78	-$803.15	-24.13%
Mississippi	$2,056.13	-$1,608.44	-43.89%
Montana	$2,031.89	-$1,188.96	-36.91%
North Carolina	NA in State
North Dakota	$2,006.80	-$2,159.04	-51.83%
Nebraska	$2,330.78	-$952.90	-29.02%
New Hampshire	$1,906.96	-$1,244.81	-39.50%
New Jersey	NA in State
New Mexico	$2,296.77	-$1,166.87	-33.69%
Nevada	$3,069.07	-$1,792.64	-36.87%
New York	$3,761.69	-$528.20	-12.31%
Ohio	$1,478.46	-$1,231.25	-45.44%
Oklahoma	$3,174.15	-$968.17	-23.37%
Oregon	$2,587.15	-$880.62	-25.39%
Pennsylvania	$1,793.37	-$2,241.13	-55.55%
Rhode Island	$4,323.98	-$679.38	-13.58%
South Carolina	$3,424.77	-$356.37	-9.42%
South Dakota	NA in State
Tennessee	$2,739.28	-$921.61	-25.17%
Texas	$2,487.89	-$1,555.39	-38.47%
Utah	$2,491.10	-$1,120.79	-31.03%
Virginia	$1,858.38	-$499.49	-21.18%
Vermont	$1,903.55	-$1,330.58	-41.14%
Washington	$2,262.16	-$797.16	-26.06%
West Virginia	$1,984.62	-$610.74	-23.53%
Wisconsin	$2,975.74	-$630.33	-17.48%
Wyoming	$2,779.53	-$420.55	-13.14%
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In looking at the cost of rates across the country, we found that USAA drivers in a dozen states are paying less than $2,000 a year. The lowest rates can be found in Hawaii, averaging just under $1,200.

As for where USAA drivers are experiencing some of the biggest savings against the state average? That would be in Michigan, where the average USAA rate is $6,878.64 less than the state average.

How do USAA’s rates compare among the top 10 companies?

You may also be wondering how affordable USAA’s auto insurance is compared among the best auto insurance companies in the U.S. When compared to other auto insurance companies, USAA ranks first among the best insurance providers for veterans and military personnel.

Here, we can see the story is simple — USAA has the lowest average state rates among large insurers like State Farm, Nationwide, GEICO, and Liberty Mutual. In fact, USAA is the only company on this list with an average rate in the two-thousand dollar range ($2,537.00). The next-lowest rates can be found with GEICO, averaging just over $3,200.

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What are the average USAA male vs female auto insurance rates?

That car insurance rates can vary between men and women is a pretty well-known fact. And according to the Insurance Information Institute, women often tend to get the better end of the deal. Experts say,

“Statistically, women tend to get into fewer accidents, have fewer driver-under-the-influence accidents (DUIs), and—most importantly—have less serious accidents than men. So all other things being equal, women often pay less for auto insurance than their male counterparts.”

So of course, we wanted to know if USAA rates were consistent with this line of thought. The answer? Not necessarily. Check out the annual auto insurance rates with USAA based upon marital status, gender, and age below.

• Married 35-year old female: $1,551.43
• Married 35-year old male: $1,540.32
• Married 60-year old female: $1,449.85
• Married 60-year old male: $1,448.98
• Single 17-year old female: $4,807.54
• Single 17-year old male: $5,385.61
• Single 25-year old female: $1,988.52
• Single 25-year old male: $2,126.14

For USAA drivers, what it really boils down to is age and marital status. Being married can save drivers a significant amount of money, especially as USAA is one of the best insurance providers for married couples. When comparing rates between married 35-year-olds and married 60-year-olds, female drivers are actually paying more, but the difference is in dollars.

However, when looking at single 17-year-olds and single 25-year-olds, the differences become more pronounced, with men paying more in each category.

 

What are average USAA auto insurance rates by vehicle make and model?

The kind of car you drive can also impact your rate. According to the Insurance Information Institute, some contributing factors will include the cost of your car, the likelihood of theft, the cost of repairs, the engine size, and its safety record.

We compared USAA rates across six popular cars of different sizes, engines, and costs.

In this specific group of vehicles, USAA drivers with 2018 Ford F-150s are paying the highest rates at just over $2,800. The car associated with the lowest rates on this list is the 2015 Honda Civic Sedan, at just over $2,400.

What are the average USAA commute rates?

What about your daily commute? Does that have any bearing on USAA rates?

Turns out, very little. Take a look at this table to see how your commute affects your car insurance rates.

As the table above illustrates, the difference between a 10-mile and a 25-mile daily commute is roughly $110 a year.

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What are the average USAA rates by coverage level?

It’s really very simple — more coverage, more money.  At least that’s the case with USAA drivers. We compared rates among those with low, medium, and high coverage:

In looking at the data, we can glean that:

• USAA drivers with high coverage are paying about $128 more than those with medium coverage.
• Drivers with medium coverage are paying about $135 more than those with low coverage.
• As for the difference between high coverage and low coverage? That’s about $263.

Higher coverage means more peace of mind for you and less out of pocket expenses.

What are the average USAA rates by credit history?

Buying houses, getting loans, and even applying for jobs.

Without a doubt, your credit score can have a dramatic impact on many areas of your financial life, including your car insurance rates.

So what does having good, fair, or poor credit mean for USAA members?

For drivers with poor credit, rates are significantly higher than their counterparts with better scores. In fact, USAA drivers with poor credit are paying about twice what drivers with good credit are paying, at nearly $3,7000.

What are the average USAA rates by driving record?

Accidents, DUIs, and traffic violations — any of these incidents can cause your rates to increase, and in some cases, very dramatically.

We took at USAA rates among drivers with the following records:

In looking at this table, it’s obvious that any infraction can lead to an increase in your USAA rates.

But the most dramatic impact can be found in having one DUI, with a significant increase of over $1,500 in rates compared to that of drivers with clean records.

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Do I need USAA auto insurance coverage?

The simple truth for any driver is that coverage options are everything. And it’s not just about your state’s minimum requirements — it’s about making sure you have all of the coverages you need to have peace of mind.

What are USAA basic coverages?

Here are USAA’s basic car coverage options:

• Comprehensive insurance— This pays for damage to your car resulting from unexpected incidents outside of a collision or rollover. This includes theft, fire, vandalism, and weather damage.
• Collision insurance — This pays for damage done to your car as a result of a collision or rollover, regardless of who was at fault.
• Liability —This covers bodily injury or property damage done to others as a result of an accident that you caused.
• Personal Injury Protection (PIP) — This helps pay for medical expenses, funeral costs, disability, and lost income of you or your passengers as a result of an accident, regardless of who was at fault.  This also satisfies the requirements of “no-fault” states.
• Extended Benefits Coverage — According to USAA: “Provides wage earner and essential services disability benefits, plus a specific death benefit. This coverage can be carried only when medical payments coverage is also carried. Coverage varies by location. See policy for details.”
• Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Bodily Injury Coverage — This pays for injuries to you and your passengers resulting from an accident caused by a driver that has no insurance, has insufficient coverage, or is a hit-and-run driver
• Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Property Damage Coverage — This pays for the damage to your vehicle if you are in an accident caused by a driver who has no insurance, or insufficient coverage. In most states, damage caused by a hit-and-run driver is also included. 

What are USAA additional coverages?

USAA also offers these additional options:

• Roadside Assistance —This goes toward the cost to tow or repair your car if you’re stranded and your car won’t start. It also includes services to unlock your car, get gas delivered, or change a tire.
• Rental Reimbursement — This pays the cost of a rental car (up to the class you choose) while your car is being repaired due to a covered insurance claim.
• Accident Forgiveness — If you’ve remained accident-free for five years, this ensures your rate doesn’t go up if you have one at-fault accident.

These are extra coverages you might consider based on your needs.

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What are USAA auto insurance discounts?

Safe Drivers, New Vehicles, and Young Drivers. USAA offers a variety of discounts appealing to drivers of all walks of life.

We assembled a table showing what discounts USAA offers and, when available, the amount and terms. It’s important to keep in mind that car insurance discounts can vary from state to state, and from driver to driver. Make sure you review your policy and speak to a representative.

This table shows you the USAA auto insurance discount list.

USAA Auto Insurance Discounts

Discount	Discount Amount	Additional Info
Anti-lock Brakes
Anti-Theft
Claim Free	12	"Premier Driver Discount" 4%-12% depending on driving record 12% is for accident and violation-free for 5 yrs *One safe driver/claim-free discount applies Not available in HI
Daytime Running Lights
Defensive Driver	3	Discount lasts 3 years
Distant Student		Labeled as "non-operator" you won't pay for that driver until he or she is home to use the car
Driver's Ed	3	"Driver Training" for drivers under 21 the discount lasts until he/she turns 21 not available in: HI, NC & NY
Driving Device/App	5	DriveSync Vehicle must be '96 or newer Available in: AZ, ID, TX, VA & WA
Early Signing	12	Advance Purchase Discount
Family Legacy	10	Requirements: -under 25 years old -been insured on parents' policy for at least 3 years -clean driving record
Garaging/Storing	90
Good Student	3	3.0 or higher The discount lasts 3 years Not available in: HI, NC & NY
Low Mileage
Loyalty
Married
Military
Military Garaging	15	Discount off of comprehensive coverage; not available in NY
Multiple Policies
Multiple Vehicles
Newer Vehicle	12	3yrs=4% 2yrs=8% 0-1 yr=12% No more than 3 years old discount decreases as car ages Not available in NY
Occasional Operator		Discount based on operator's individual driving record
Paperless Documents
Paperless/Auto Billing	3
Passive Restraint
Safe Driver	12	"Premier Driver Discount" 4%-12% depending on driving record 12% is for accident and violation-free for 5 years *One safe driver/claim-free discount applies Not available in HI
Senior Driver
Vehicle Recovery
VIN Etching
Young Driver	$75	"Automatic License+" Car plug-in device for 15-19 yr olds '96 or newer vehicle $25 gift card for signing up upon completion of 100 hr program: $50-gold $20-silver $5-bronze based on driving behavior
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USAA offers SafePilot, a usage-based driving app where drivers can receive discounts for safe driving practices. This usage-based app has made USAA one of the best insurance providers for telecommuters. The USAA premier driver discount is also available to drivers who go five years without an accident.

USAA: What stands out and what’s missing?

What stands out with USAA’s discounts is the variety. In reviewing this list, it would be hard for any driver not to find at least one discount he or she can take advantage of.

The Claim Free and Safe Driver discounts provide a good incentive to maintain a good record, as both can result in discounts of up to 12 percent. The Young Driver discount is also intriguing, as members can receive gift cards just for signing up.

USAA is the best auto insurance provider for students according to our recent study. Young drivers average an auto insurance rate of $352 per month, the lowest of all top 10 auto insurance providers.

In spite of USAA’s many offerings, some noticeable omissions include discounts for “green” vehicles, Full Payment discounts, and New Plan discounts. However, in addressing the latter, USAA’s website claims new customers have averaged hundreds of dollars in savings once switching over.

Finally, it’s also important to note that not all of USAA’s discounts are applicable in every state. We noticed several discounts are not available to drivers in Hawaii and New York, such as the Good Student and Driver’s Ed discounts.

 

What are USAA ratings?

There’s “Superior,” “Strong,” and “Among the Best.” And then, there’s “Poor,” “Highly Speculative,” and “The Rest.”

Let’s be honest. How an insurance company is being rated is important. And when it comes to where United Services Automobile Association reviews stand among the likes of A.M. Best, S&P, the Better Business Bureau, and more, drivers are naturally — and rightfully — curious.

Searching the web for these ratings doesn’t have to be a hassle — we’ve done the research and have gathered all of the data right here. But before we dig any deeper, take a look at our ratings overview:

These ratings reveal a variety of key insights into USAA, from its financial health to its ability to meet its obligations, and to its consistency in customer relations.

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What are USAA A.M. Best ratings?

Financial stability is the name of the game for A.M. Best, and the ratings issuer has made its mark providing insight into more than 3,500 companies in 90 countries.

Their goal? To assist both industry leaders and consumers in assessing “an insurer’s financial strength, creditworthiness, and ability to honor obligations to policyholders worldwide.”

A.M. Best assigns ratings that range from an A++ at its highest, to a D at its lowest. So where does USAA fall? Passing with flying colors — USAA has a “Superior” A++ ranking, meaning that A.M. Best sees the company as having “a superior ability to meet their ongoing insurance obligations.”

In a news release, A.M. Best goes on to say this about USAA:

“USAA maintains diversified sources of earnings and strong ERM (enterprise risk management), with a full range of financial products and services to its membership of military and ex-military personnel and their dependents. USAA’s low-cost structure, high customer retention, effective use of technology, and exceptional customer service capabilities have enabled it to build a sustainable competitive advantage in the personal lines sector.”

In addition to its superior Financial Strength Rating (FSR), USAA also received a Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (ICR) of an “aaa.” Under A.M. Best’s rating scale, this is known as “Exceptional,” pointing to what experts believe is USAA’s ability to meet its ongoing senior financial obligations.

What are USAA Better Business Bureau ratings?

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is a nonprofit that uses ratings as a way of helping consumers understand how a business interacts with its customers — good and bad.  BBB grades are based on several key factors, including:

• A business’s complaint history with BBB
• Type of business
• Time in business
• Transparent Business Practices
• Failure to honor commitments to BBB
• Licensing and government actions that are known to BBB

The BBB uses a 100-point scale to come up with letter grades. An  A+ is the highest (97-100 points), and an F is the lowest (0 – 59.99 points). We discovered that USAA has a B- grade with the BBB.

As we mentioned above, known government actions are a contributing factor to a business’s overall rating with the BBB. In the case of USAA, that is precisely why the company has a B-. The BBB points to two government actions against USAA that were resolved in January 2019:

The first is a settlement between USAA and the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, which states that USAA violated the Electronic Fund Transfer Act, as well as the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010.

The terms of the settlement require USAA to provide certain consumers with approximately $12 million in restitution and pay a $3.5 million civil penalty.

The second involves a consent order USAA entered with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). This consent order settles allegations that USAA “failed to implement and maintain an effective risk management program commensurate with the bank’s size, complexity, and risk profile.”

It also addresses other allegations that USAA’s bank failed to comply with a number of federal guidelines and also failed to implement and maintain an effective compliance management system.

Under the terms of the consent order, USAA agreed to appoint a compliance committee and submit an action plan. It should also be noted that in entering the consent order, USAA neither admits nor denies the allegations.

What is USAA Moody’s rating?

It’s pretty safe to assume that most drivers reading this article have a credit score, which we know to be an important number that lenders look to in order to assess your risk.

In the same way a credit score measures your “risk,” companies like Moody’s do the same with businesses — that is, assign ratings that shed light on the quality of a company’s obligations, and the level of its credit risk.

Moody’s is one of the most highly-regarded credit-rating agencies in the world and is considered one of the “big three” in the market. Its rankings range from AAA (the highest quality) to C (the lowest quality).

As for USAA, Moody’s has assigned it an AAA rating. In other words,

“The rating affirmation reflects USAA’s market leadership in providing insurance and other financial services to the military community and its strong capitalization.”

However, it should be noted that in spite of its AAA rating (which USAA points to as the highest of 21 possible rankings), Moody’s changed USAA’s rating outlook from “stable” to “negative” in March 2019.

This change is in response to the consent order we previously mentioned between USAA’s Federal Savings Bank and the Office of the Comptroller of Currency (OCC). According to a Moody’s news release,

“The negative rating outlook reflects the significant management and financial resources USAA will need to devote to this matter over the next couple of years, as well as the possibility that the OCC or the bank will uncover further weaknesses through the remediation process.”

Read more about Moody’s rationale behind this change of outlook.

What are USAA S&P ratings?

S&P is also considered one of the world’s “Big Three” credit-rating agencies, looking to examine “the ability and willingness” of a company to meet its financial obligations in a timely matter.

S&P Ratings range from an AAA at its highest, to a D at its lowest. USAA currently has an AA+ or a “very strong capacity to meet its financial obligations.”

What is USAA’s NAIC Complaint Index?

Here’s a no-brainer — when it comes to the insurance companies we are willing to drive with, we want to know if they are prone to complaints. So, where does USAA stand in terms of complaints? Is the association receiving complaints at a rate that is higher, or lower than normal?

Lucky for us, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) has answers. The association hosts a database in which consumers can review the three-year complaint trends of insurance companies, as provided by state insurance departments.

We looked at USAA’s complaint trend data from 2016 to 2018, and here’s what we found:

In looking at complaints USAA received with its private passenger insurance policies, we see a downward trend, with the number of complaints decreasing by 35 in the three-year period.

And where USAA’s complaint index was higher than the National Complaint Index in 2016, those numbers improved in 2017 and in 2018.

How are USAA J.D. Power ratings?

For J.D. Power, it’s all about customer satisfaction.

The J.D. Power U.S. Auto Insurance Study ranks auto-insurance companies by region and measures customer satisfaction in five areas (in order of importance): interaction, policy offerings, price, billing process and policy information, and claims.

Within this study, J.D. Power also assigns “Power Circle Ratings” to each insurer. They are:

• Five out of Five Circles (“Among the Best’)
• Four out of Five Circles (“Better than Most”)
• Three out of Five Circles (“About Average”)
• Two out of Five Circles (“The Rest”)

Here’s what you need to know about this J.D. Power study — because USAA is only open to U.S. military personnel and their families, they are not included in the rankings. However, USAA is still profiled in each region, and the results are pretty impressive:

There’s no other way to say it — though not officially ranked, USAA received exceptional feedback in this study, achieving the highest Power Circle Rating in every single region surveyed.

How are USAA Consumer Reports ratings?

With Consumer Reports, we see the glowing USAA auto insurance reviews continue.

In looking at a variety of categories ranging from an insurance agent courtesy to the claims process, USAA hits homerun after homerun, earning a Reader Score of 95 and “Excellent” feedback across the board.

What is USAA company history?

It all began with 25 Army officers.

The year was 1922, and the city was San Antonio, Texas. This group of Army officers came together to self-insure each other, effectively forming the United States Army Automobile Association.

Just one year later, the company expanded to include other branches of the armed services and changed its name to the United Services Automobile Association — today’s USAA.

Eligibility would expand again in 1996 and in 2009. In 1996, to include enlisted personnel serving on active duty, the National Guard, and selected reserves. In 2009, to include “all who are serving or have honorably served our nation in the U.S. military.”

USAA membership now includes nearly 13 million. Today, the question for consumers is whether USAA’s story points to one of continued growth — specifically, in its market share of the industry.

What is the USAA market share?

You may be wondering what market share is, and why it matters. Simply put, a market share is a number that illustrates a company’s portion of sales within the market it operates.

Market share is given as a percentage (out of 100) and is an indicator of a company’s size in the market.

As of 2018, NAIC data shows that USAA had the 5th-highest market share among all auto insurers, at 5.87 percent. For USAA, this figure is part of an overall trend of growth.

In breaking down the data even further, we can see the same pattern of increase in USAA’s market share of liability and physical damage.

USAA has made steady progress in the last few years, increasing 0.59 percentage points since 2015.

What is the USAA auto claims phone number?

USAA has a variety of ways in which members and non-members can make contact:

• By telephone, at the USAA auto insurance quote phone number 800-531-USAA (8722) or 210-531-USAA (8722)
• By Virtual Agent (an automated bot accessible on its “Contact Us” page)
• Online, by logging into your account  (or creating a new one)
• Through its mobile app
• By mail at USAA / 9800 Fredericksburg Rd. / San Antonio, TX 78288

This makes it very easy to contact USAA with any questions you may have.

 

What USAA commercials are there?

In the world of television commercials, consumers can expect to encounter a variety of marketing techniques — catchy jingles, memorable slogans, and over-the-top visuals. But what about customer testimonials attesting to the quality of the product?

While USAA certainly doesn’t shy away from using humor in its advertising, we found that in its most recent commercials tied to auto insurance, USAA relied on the positive experiences of its members.

Other commercials use personal testimony to not only demonstrate the company’s diverse offerings but to also highlight the fact that USAA can be “passed down” to family members.

Some advertisements shed light on USAA’s options and rates through the eyes of a military family.

What community service does USAA do?

Time, and money.

They’re both investments USAA CEO Stuart Parker says employees are putting back into the community on a regular basis. Parker goes on to say that giving back is so important, USAA employees are given two days of paid time annually in order to volunteer. (In 2018 alone, USAA employees registered more than 500,000 volunteer hours.)

USAA categorizes its community service into two ways:

• Supporting military families.
• Improving the quality of living in communities where USAA employees work and live.

Nationally, USAA looks to invest in:

• Military caregivers; families of the fallen; wounded, ill, and injured service members; and military children
• Fulfilling careers for veterans and military spouses
• Financial readiness for military families

At the local level, USAA focuses on:

• Families in Need
• Education
• Safety and natural disaster response

In 2018 alone, USAA employees registered more than 500,000 volunteer hours.

Finally, USAA also has its own Educational Foundation, which focuses on helping the military and local community improve its financial readiness.

How is USAA Positioned for the future?

In terms of its financial health and reputation, it’s clear that USAA is hitting a lot of high marks. With the highest-possible designations from A.M. Best and Moody’s, and with strong ratings from S&P, USAA has proven itself among some of the world’s leading rating-issuing organizations.

Also working in USAA’s favor is its continued trajectory in its market share. The fact that USAA continues to move forward, and not backward, in this area is certainly indicative that drivers continue to trust the association in insuring their vehicles.

Speaking of trust, USAA can also celebrate stellar consumer ratings from both J.D. Power and Consumer Reports, knocking it out of the park in virtually every category. Although J.D. Power technically doesn’t include USAA in its rankings, it’s profile alone demonstrates that USAA is a strong contender in its field.

What may be challenging for USAA is its B- rating with the BBB, as well as its “negative’ outlook from Moody’s — both stemming from government action taken against the company.

It is, however, important to note that both instances have been settled.  Whether these actions will have any long-term impact on USAA will only be revealed in time.

USAA is also ranked in the 12 best auto insurance companies for green living. It has the option for a paperless billing discount and a number of green initiatives that may position it well for the future.

Who are USAA employees?

Did you know that nearly one in four USAA employees are veterans or military spouses?

Statistics like this undoubtedly enforce USAA’s commitment to the military community and its values. However, there is much more to learn about the men and women behind USAA.

What are USAA employees by age?

Who makes up a bigger percentage of USAA’s workforce? Is it people in their 20s and 30s? Their 40s and 50s? Or, in their 60s and 70s?

Through Great Places to Work, we learned what percentage of USAA’s workforce could be categorized as Baby Boomers (born between 1945 and 1964), Generation X (born between 1965 and 1980), or Millennials (born between 1981 and 1997).

In comparing the number of Generation X employees to Millennials, it looks like USAA has a pretty even split — at 42 percent and 41 percent respectively. It’s the Baby Boomer group that is the smallest in number, at 17 percent of the workforce.

What is the tenure of USAA employees?

Aside from their ages, we also wanted to know how long men and women are remaining employed with USAA.

According to Great Places to Work, the majority of USAA’s employees — 55 percent — have been with the association for up to five years. Employees who have worked with USAA between 16 and 20 years make up the smallest group, at just seven percent.

What is the USAA employee experience?

Finally, when it comes to employee experience, Great Places to Work reports that 89 percent of USAA employees say it’s a great place to work. In surveying employees:

• 96 percent say, “When you join the company, you are made to feel welcome.”
• 95 percent say, “I feel good about the ways we contribute to the community.”
• 93 percent say, “I’m proud to tell others I work here.”
• 92 percent say, “Our facilities contribute to a good working environment.”
• 92 percent say, “We have special and unique benefits here.”

We also checked out what USAA employees had to say at Glassdoor and Payscale.com

At Glassdoor, the average employee rating was 3.6 out of five stars, with USAA being named to Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work list in 2009 (#36)

At Payscale.com, the average employee rating was 3.9 out of five stars, with high marks in Company Outlook (4.2/5 stars) and in Manager Relationship and Learning and Development (both 4/5 stars),

What awards and accolades has USAA won?

When it comes to earning awards and accolades, USAA has more than a dozen reasons to celebrate — and that’s just in the number of times USAA has landed on “Best Workplace” lists.

Just to name some of the awards USAA has earned in relation to its work environment, here’s a listing of awards earned in 2019.

• #17 in Best Workplaces in Financial Services & Insurance™
• #47 in Best Workplaces in Texas™
• #30 in 2019 Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For®
• #75 in Best Workplaces for Millennials™
• #8 in PEOPLE 2019 Companies that Care®

In speaking to its financial health, USAA is on the Fortune 500 list and has been named to the Ward Group 50 Top Performing Life/Health Insurance Companies list multiple times.

Additional honors include being named to the World’s Most Ethical Companies list from 2016 to 2019, and a Military Friendly Company from 2017 to 2019.

How do you cancel your policy with USAA?

Should you need to cancel your auto insurance policy, you can use your USAA auto insurance login to do so online through your USAA account, by mail (9800 Fredricksburg Rd, San Antonio, TX 78288), or by USAA insurance phone number (800-531-USAA or 8722).

You’ll want to give USAA plenty of notice before your anticipated end date, especially if you’re set up on automatic payments.

When canceling, be sure to have the following information on hand:

• Name, address, date of birth, and Social Security number
• Your policy number
• The date you want your policy canceled
• The reason for the cancellation (for instance, a new policy or selling your car)
• If you’re changing policies, have the name of your new insurance company and the policy number,

It cannot be emphasized enough— if you intend on switching car insurance providers, be sure that you won’t have any lapses in coverage. Not doing so can lead to tickets, fines, or being held financially liable for an accident or collision.

How do you make a claim with USAA?

We get it — car accidents and claims are two parts of the auto insurance industry most drivers don’t want to talk about. But the reality is, both happen, and you don’t have to be in the dark about how to respond.

Keep reading to learn more about United Service auto insurance claims protocols, should you find yourself in a collision.

How easy is making a claim with USAA?

USAA members are able to report United Services Automobile Association auto claims by phone. Call during USAA normal business hours at 800-531-USAA (8722) from (Monday – Friday 7:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.)

Claims can also be made online or through the mobile app 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

What do you need when making a claim with USAA?

For drivers who find themselves in an accident, USAA offers this “checklist”

• Get license plate numbers.
• Write down the year, make, and model of vehicles involved
• Write down the insurance company and policy number.
• Gather witness contact information.
• Obtain police accident report information.
• Take photos of any damage and the scene of the accident.

Make sure you have this information on hand before attempting to file your United Services auto insurance claims.

What are the USAA premiums written and loss ratio?

Taking a look at the number of insurance premiums USAA is writing against its loss ratio will shed more light on its claims.

First, let’s look at where USAA stands in terms of the number of direct premiums that have written in the last few years.

In fact, from 2015 to 2018, USAA saw an increase of approximately 3.9 million direct premiums written.

So, how does this relate to USAA’s loss ratio?

A company’s loss ratio is a ratio of loss to gains — how much the company is paying out in claims, versus the money it’s receiving in rates. If an insurance company has a loss ratio that’s over 100, that means the company is paying out more in claims than what they’re receiving in rates.

In light of this definition, we can see a positive trend in USAA’s loss ratio, especially compared to the number of direct premiums written.

In spite of a spike in 2016, USAA’s loss ratio has continued to decrease in recent years, remaining under 100.

USAA: How do you get a quote online? (Step-by-Step Instructions)

You’ve read through the rates, you’ve seen the data, and now, you’re ready for a quote.

How do you begin?

First, head to https://www.usaa.com and scroll down to the middle of the page. There, you’ll see the title “See How We Can Help Today.” Begin by clicking “Get a Free Quote” under the “Auto Insurance” header:

How do you create an account?

Next, you’ll be taken to this page and given two options — either log in to an existing account or create a new one.

How do you determine your eligibility?

If this is your first encounter with USAA, you will likely need to create an account. But a new account can’t be created by any driver. You have to qualify.

Here, it’s important to note who USAA membership is open to. According to USAA, this includes:

• Active Duty, Guard or Reserve — Individuals who are currently serving in the U.S. Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, Navy, National Guard, and Reserves.
• Veterans —Those who have retired or separated from the U.S. military with a discharge type of Honorable.
• Eligible Family —Widows, widowers, and un-remarried former spouses of USAA members who joined USAA prior to or during the marriage and individuals whose parents joined USAA.
• Cadets and Midshipmen — Cadets and midshipmen at U.S. service academies or affiliated academy preparatory schools, in advanced ROTC or on ROTC scholarship, plus officer candidates within 24 months of commissioning.

With this in mind, the next step in this process will be in proving that you are, in fact, eligible. You will be led to the screen below, which will prompt you to provide documentation proving that you can apply for membership:

Once you’ve proven your eligibility and you’ve created an account, you’ll be able to move forward in obtaining a quote online.

What do you need to apply?

As a point of reference, we’ve created a table highlighting who is eligible for membership, and what you need to prove eligibility:

Now imagine following this process for three to four companies to compare rates. That’s a lot of time spent but comparing cheap auto insurance rates doesn’t have to be hard.

Use our free comparison tool above and compare rates from multiple companies in a matter of minutes.

Should I use USAA’s mobile app and website?

Being able to access your insurance policy and documents online has quickly become the standard across most major car insurance companies. We’re now going to take a closer look at USAA’s mobile app and website — what they offer, and what customers are saying.

How useful is USAA’s mobile app?

The USAA Mobile App is available in the Apple App Store and Google Play. According to USAA, mobile app users can:

• Get an Auto ID Card
• Report Claims
• Request Roadside Assistance
• Review Accident Checklist

In looking at the Apple App Store:

• We found the average review rating was nearly perfect, at 4.8 out of five stars (over 430,000 ratings).
• Among the compliments we saw for the app — user-friendly “even for seniors,” convenient, easy to use, and great customer service team.
• Among its criticisms — frustration with software updates, difficulty with syncing, problems with Face ID, and some broken components.

In looking at Google Play:

• The average review was slightly lower, at 4.6 out of five stars (over 125,000 ratings).
• Among the compliments — easy to navigate, very convenient, and plenty of options.
• Among the criticisms — issues with the fingerprint login, difficulties with newer versions of the app, and errors loading.

Unfortunately, USAA’s usage-based app (SafePilot) hasn’t done as well as the mobile app. However, SafePilot’s two out of five-star rating is partly because the newly-launched app only has a few reviews.

The major reason behind the negative reviews is that the usage-based app is only available in select states, as users would download the app and find out that they couldn’t use it.

The usage-based app is only available in Arizona, Ohio, Texas, and Virginia.

Hopefully, USAA will continue to expand the usage-based app into other states.

How easy is USAA’s website to use?

In visiting USAA’s front page, it’s clear that members are able to access a variety of products and services:

Once in the Auto Insurance section, visitors can quickly navigate to the Claims Center, make payments, see available coverage options, and learn about discounts:

However, it’s worthwhile to note that those who are not already members may have difficulty accessing certain parts of the website, as those are restricted to those who have accounts.

What are USAA pros and cons?

Now that we’re near the end of our USAA review, let’s look at some pros and cons:

Let’s begin with some of the pros: An obvious advantage of USAA is its affordability. Our data analysis shows that, in most cases, it’s hard to find rates that beat those being offered by USAA.

However, one must always remember that rates will vary from driver to driver, and state to state — exceptions will always apply.

When it comes to customer service, it’s hard to ignore the superior ratings USAA received with both J.D. Power and Consumer Reports. And, speaking of superior ratings, it’s also hard to ignore USAA’s top ratings with A.M. Best and Moody’s — both indicators of a strong financial base.

Finally, we can’t forget that USAA scores high marks with its mobile apps, with nearly perfect average review scores across both Apple and Google Play.

On the flip side, USAA is only available to those with specific ties to the military. Even getting a quote is restricted to those who meet USAA’s eligibility requirements.

In terms of its coverage, USAA only offers a limited number of add-ons. Options like gap insurance or rideshare coverage are not offered.

In spite of USAA’s strong financial ratings, the association received some lower marks for government action related to financial matters. It is, however, important to keep in mind that USAA has been proactive in its response.

Finally, where drivers are able to earn discounted rates, reading the “fine print” is imperative. We found a number of the discounts offered are not available in all states, and some are offered at lower rates depending on where you live.

What’s the bottom line on USAA auto insurance?

At the end of the day, USAA is showing growth in a lot of the right places — in its direct premiums written, an increasing net worth, and an uptick in its share of the market.

Between its strong financial standing, highly-competitive rates, and a consistently strong reputation, one can see why millions continue to choose USAA as their car insurance provider.

Before you decide to go with USAA auto insurance, shop around. Enter your ZIP code into our free comparison tool now to begin comparing auto insurance quotes from top companies

Frequently Asked Questions: USAA Auto Insurance

Before we go, we want to address some of your Frequently Asked Questions.

#1 – Does USAA auto insurance cover windshield repair or replacement?

According to USAA, windshield and auto glass are covered under comprehensive coverage. USAA goes on to say that your deductible does not apply when your windshield is repaired.

The claims department will determine whether the repair is possible and if the deductible will apply for glass replacement at the time a claim is reported. The following states have specific coverage and deductibles: AZ, CT, FL, KY, MA, MN, NY, and SC. Click here for more details.

#2 – How can I pay for USAA auto insurance?

USAA offers several payment options— by check, by credit card, or online from your checking, savings, or money market account. You may choose to pay for your policy upfront, or you can pay in installments. Finally, you can also enroll in automatic payments.

#3 – Should I buy USAA auto insurance for my rental car?

The answer is, you likely shouldn’t have to. According to the USAA site:

• If your policy is based in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, or U.S. territories and possessions, and
• If you rent and operate the vehicle in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, or U.S. territories and possessions, then
• Your rental is covered for the liability physical damage you’ve got on your USAA auto policy, with a few exceptions.

Check with your credit cards company also since many of them include car rental insurance.

#4 – How can I lower my USAA auto insurance rate?

USAA offers this advice: raising your deductible, maintaining good credit, and reducing physical damage coverage on older cars. See more options by clicking here.

Congratulations — you’ve made it to the end of our complete guide to USAA car insurance. Having a better understanding of this provider now puts you in a better position to make more informed decisions about your car insurance.

#5 – Who is eligible for USAA auto insurance?

Only military members and their immediate families are eligible for USAA auto insurance.

#6 – Is USAA the cheapest auto insurance?

It depends on the state. USAA is usually the cheapest auto insurance in states where they offer insurance.

#7 – Can I get USAA auto insurance?

You must be in the U.S. military or be in the immediate family of someone who is in the U.S. military.

#8 – How much does USAA auto insurance cost?

The average auto insurance quotes for USAA is $2.542 per year or $212 per month.

#9 – Can I join USAA if I’m not in the military?

Yes, if you are an immediate family member of someone currently in the military or a veteran.